Colossal Chinese dragon in golden embossed copper

4 elements of a dragon in embossed copper or bronze and hot-gilded with mercury. 2 or 3 elements must be missing. The dragon's legs have 4 claws which would seem to exclude imperial affiliation, however the monumental size of more than 5 to 6 meters long would indicate an order for a temple or for the palace of an important person. You have to imagine the golden dragon writhing on an immense panel of dark wood carved with flames and clouds. We had thought that the dragon could be partly hidden by the clouds, as in certain paintings, but the fact that 2 of the 4 elements join end to end seems to exclude this hypothesis. The metal sheet is thick, the embossed work is of good quality and the details are finely executed. The eyes are made of copper alloy with a black patina. In certain places, small openings are made in the metal to accommodate small decorative elements, such as the mustaches which have now disappeared. The gilding is worn as shown in the photos. Some details are riveted. Beautiful old patina, oxidation on the reverse.
Head dimensions: 820x500x65mm. The other elements have approximately the same dimensions.
It is difficult to give a precise date. Certainly during a prosperous period in China, we would say before 1850.

This is an absolutely unique set. We do not know of any other example.
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